Apparatus for use in laterally x-raying a patient{40 s torso

ABSTRACT

Apparatus is provided for supporting the arms of a patient in an outstretched orientation while a lateral X-ray is taken of the patient&#39;&#39;s torso. The apparatus includes a frame having at least one longitudinally extending support member or cross bar adapted to be grasped by the patient for supporting his arms in an outstretched orientation. The frame is connected to a base in such a manner that it may be moved between an inactive position and an active position. In the active position, the support member is spaced from the patient&#39;&#39;s torso by a distance approximately equal to the length of the patient&#39;&#39;s arms. Also, in the active position, the support member extends transversely to the central axis of the patient&#39;&#39;s torso at approximately the same height as the patient&#39;&#39;s shoulders.

United States Patent [1 1 N osol [451 Oct. 29, 1974 1 APPARATUS FOR USE IN LATERALLY X-RAYING A PATIENT'S TORSO [76] Inventor: John Leonard Nosol, 1605 Bell Rd,

Chagrin Falls, Ohio 44022 [22] Filed: May 7, 1973 [21] App]. No.: 358,133

[52] U.S. Cl. 250/439, 250/456 [51] Int. Cl. G0ln 23/00 [58] Field of Search 250/439, 444, 451, 448, 250/491, 456; 269/328 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,516,795 11/1924 Schwarting 269/328 1,968,120 7/1934 Barghausen et al. 269/328 2,743,975 5/1956 Stiefvater 269/328 Primary Examiner-James W. Lawrence Assistant Examiner-B. C. Anderson Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Yount, Tarolli & Weinshenker [57] ABSTRACT Apparatus is provided for supporting the arms of a pa tient in an outstretched orientation while a lateral X-ray is taken of the patients torso. The apparatus includes a frame having at least one longitudinally extending support member or cross bar adapted to be grasped by the patient for supporting his arms in an outstretched orientation. The frame is connected to a base in such a manner that it may be moved between an inactive position and an active position. In the active position, the support member is spaced from the patients torso by a distance approximately equal to the length of the patients arms. Also, in the active position, the support member extends transversely to the central axis of the patients torso at approximately the same height as the patients shoulders.

6 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures APPARATUS FOR USE IN LATERALLY X-RAYING A PATIENT'S TORSO This invention relates to the art of taking X-rays and, more particularly, to apparatus to facilitate the taking of a lateral X-ray of a patients torso by supporting the patients arms in an outstretched orientation.

It is frequently desirable that a lateral X-ray be taken of a patient's torso while the patients arms are in an outstretched or raised orientation so that they are removed from the field ofthe X-rays. However, for many patients such as elderly people or invalids, it is a difficult, if not impossible. physical task to maintain arms in an outstretched orientation without support for a time duration sufficient for the machine operator to take one or more X-ray pictures. Consequently then, to prevent the patient from dropping his arms during the taking of an X-ray, it is desirable to provide a support for the patients arms throughout the time duration that an X-ray is being taken.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide apparatus for supporting a patients arms in an outstretched, shoulder height orientation during the taking of lateral X-rays.

It is still further object of the present invention to provide such support for patients of various heights.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide such a support which may be mounted proximate to the X-ray chest board and have an active position for use in supporting a patient's arms while an X-ray is being taken and a folded away or inactive position when the support is not in use.

It is a still further object of the present invention that such a support be provided with means for locking it when in its active position to obtain a rigid support structure.

In accordance with the broader aspects of the present invention, the apparatus includes a base, a frame for supporting the arms of a patient in an outstretched orientation during the taking of an X-ray with the frame including a longitudinally extending rigid support member adapted to be grasped by a patient's hands. The support member is connected to the base in such a manner to enable the support member to be moved between an inactive position and an active position in which the support member is spaced from the patient's torso by a distance approximately equal to the length of the patients arms. The support member, when in its active position, extends transversely to a central axis of the patients torso and is disposed at approximately the same level as the patient's shoulders.

In accordance with a more limited aspect of the present invention, the connection between the frame and the base is a pivotal connection so that the support member may be pivotally moved relative to the base between its active and inactive positions.

In accordance with a still further aspect of the present invention, the pivotal connection includes a locking mechanism operable in the active position to prevent pivotal movement of the frame while it is serving to support the patients arms.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention will become more readily apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiment of the invention as taken conjunction with the accompanying drawings which are a part hereof and wherein:

FIG. I is a perspective view illustrating the support apparatus in conjunction with an X-ray chest board;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken generally along line 22 in FIG. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3--3 in FIG. I looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view showing the interconnection of the frame and a connection collar, with the frame being in its active position', and

FIG. Sis a view similar to that of FIG. 4 but showing the frame in its inactive position.

Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for purposes of illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention only, and not for purposes of limiting same, there is illustrated a support apparatus [0 which includes a frame l2 mounted on a base or support plate 14 by upper and lower frame support assemblies 16 and 18. The support plate 14 may be mounted to a wall 20, as with suitable mounting studs, so that the support apparatus is located alongside an X-ray machine film holder 22, of conventional design, to facilitate use by a patient 24 while a lateral X-ray is being taken.

Frame 12 is comprised ofa plurality of longitudinally extending cross bars 30, 32, 34, 36, and 38 which, in the embodiment illustrated, are equally spaced from each other. The cross bars extend between and are connected to vertically extending side bars and 42. The frame may be constructed of any suitable rigid material, such as aluminum or steel tubing. If desired, the side bars 40 and 42 together with cross bars 30 and 38 may be formed as a one piece continuous rectangular structure with cross bars 32, 34, and 36 being welded at opposite ends to side bars 40 and 42. In either event, the construction is such that bars 30 through 38 are of rigid construction and are securely fastened to the side bars 40 and 42.

The support plate 14 preferably takes the form of a flat plate of rigid material, such as steel, and is adapted to be mounted flush against the upstanding vertical wall 20 behind film holder 22. The support plate is preferably located alongside the film holder. Suitable bolts 44 serve to secure the plate 14 to wall 20. If desired, a spacer member may be interposed between the support plate 14 and wall 20 so that the apparatus 10 extends outward from the wall beyond that shown in FIG. 2. Such a spacer, for example, may take the form ofa second plate similar to that of plate 14 or a rectangular window type frame member having its outer dimensions corresponding with that of plate 14. Alternatively, a plurality of spacer sleeves may be provided with each serving to receive a portion of the length of a threaded bolt 44 between plate 14 and wall 20.

The frame support assemblies 16 and 18 serve to connect the frame 12 with base 14 while enabling the frame to be moved between an inactive position, as shown in the dotted lines in FIG. I, and an active position, as shown by the solid lines in FIG. I. The assemblies l6 and I8 are identical and each takes the form, for example, as that illustrated in greater detail in FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 with respect to frame support assembly 16. This assembly includes a collar and a collar base 52 for securing the collar to support plate 14, as with suitable bolts 54. The collar is provided with inner cylindrical bearing surface 56 for slidably receiving a portion of the length of side bar 42, of circular cross section,

so as to provide a smooth bearing surface. The support assembly may be split into two portions 16a and 16b, so that it may be opened to receive side bar 42. In assembly. the sliding fit between the inner bearing surface 56 and the corresponding bearing surface of bar 42 is sufficient to permit rotation of the bar about its axis of rotation as well as to permit movement of the bar in the axial direction.

A positioning pin 60 extends through side bar 42 so as to protrude radially outward therefrom by equal amounts at diametrically opposed sides of the bar, as shown in FIG. 5. Such a pin is provided for use in conjunction with both the support assembly 16 and 18. As shown with reference to support assembly 16, pin 60 protrudes at both ends, 60a and 60b, by a distance corresponding essentially with the thickness of collar 50. Pin ends 60a and 60b rest upon an upper horizontally disposed load bearing surface 62 of collar 50. This provides load support for the frame as it is displaced from its inactive position, corresponding with the orientation shown in FIG. 5, and its active position, corresponding with the orientation shown in H0, 4. Diametrically opposed, downwardly extending U'shaped recesses 64 and 66 are providedin the upper surface 62 of collar 50. These recesses are sufficient to receive pin ends 600 and 60b when the frame is rotated to its active position as shown in FIG. 4. With pin ends 600 and 60b being received in recesses 64 and 66, the frame is locked in its active position, preventing pivotal movement of the frame about its axis of rotation.

Recesses 64 and 66 are aligned to lock the frame in its active position so that the cross bars extend substantially perpendicularly to wall 14. The frame is unlocked from its active position by displacing the frame in an upward direction to thereby remove the pins 60 from support assemblies 16 and 18. The frame is then rotated about the axis of rotation of side bar 42 in a counterclockwise direction, as shown by the arrow 70 in PK). 5. As the frame is being rotated, pins 60 will ride on the upper load bearing support surface 62 of the support assembly collars.

A U-shaped spring clip 72 is mounted on the support plate 14 and positioned to receive and resiliently hold cross bar 36 in place when the frame is in its inactive position. ln this position, the frame and its cross bar are displaced essentially 90 from the active position so that the frame and its cross bars extend along a plane essentially parallel to wall 20.

In operation. the frame 12 is displaced from its inactive position by rotating the frame in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG, 5. to release the cross bar 36 from the spring clip 72. This rotational movement is continued until position pins 60 are received in the corresponding U-shaped recesses 64 and 65 in the upper and lower collar support assemblies, At that time, the frame will be displaced downwardly, under the forces of gravity, so that the frame is locked in its active position. With the frame so positioned, a patient 24 may stand in front of X-ray film holder 22 with his body positioned to face frame 12. The patient may then raise his arms in an outstretched orientation and grasp whichever cross bar is of a height corresponding with the patients shoulders. In the embodiment illustrated, the patient grasping cross bar 34 with both hands. The cross bars are of sufficient length to permit grasping by both hands with the hands being in spaced apart rela tionship, Since the frame is locked in this position, by

virtue of pins being located in the U-shaped recesses, the patient may exert substantial force on the frame to assist his remaining stationary for a time duration sufficient for the operator to take several lateral X-rays of the patients torso.

Although the invention has been described with respect to a preferred embodiment, it is to be appreciated that various modifications and arrangement in parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. Apparatus for use in taking a lateral X-ray of a patients torso, said apparatus comprising a base, journal bearing means carried by said base, frame means for supporting the arms of the patient in an outstretched orientation during the taking of an X-ray, said frame means including a longitudinally extending rigid support member, means for connecting said support member with said base and enabling said support member to be moved between an inactive position and an active position in which said rigid support member is spaced from the patients torso by a distance which is approxi mately equal to the length of the patients arms, said connecting means including a pivot bar connected to said support member and rotatably mounted in the journal bearing means in said base so that said support member may be pivotally moved between said active and inactive positions, said support member lying in a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said pivot bar, said connecting means further including means for resisting pivotal movement of said support member relative to said base member when said support member is positioned in its active position, said rigid support member in said active position extending transversely to a central axis of the patients torso and being disposed at approximately the same level as the patients shoulders to enable the patient to grasp said support member to thereby support the patients arms in an outstretched orientation during the taking of a lateral X-ray.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for resisting pivotal movement of said support member relative to said base when said support member is positioned in its active position includes a positioning pin extending through, and protruding outwardly from, said pivot bar, and cooperating pin recess means defined in said bearing means for receiving said pin when said frame means is in its active position.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein said bearing means includes a collar structure for coaxially receiving a portion of the length of said pivot bar and having a load bearing surface cooperating with portions of the length of said pin for providing support for said frame means.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein said pin protrudes outwardly from diametrically opposed sides of the pivot bar, and wherein said recess means are defined by diametrically opposed recesses in the load bearing surface of said collar.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said frame means includes a plurality of said support members spaced apart from each other, and wherein said base includes one or more bearing means, each of said bearing means rotatably supporting said pivot bar.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2. wherein the pivot bar includes a plurality of positioning pins extending cess means are defined in the load bearing surface of each collar so as to receive respective positioning pins for resisting pivotal movement of said support member when said support member is positioned in its active position.

i i i l 

1. Apparatus for use in taking a lateral X-ray of a patient''s torso, said apparatus comprising a base, journal bearing means carried by said base, frame means for supporting the arms of the patient in an outstretched orientation during the taking of an Xray, said frame means including a longitudinally extending rigid support member, means for connecting said support member with said base and enabling said support member to be moved between an inactive position and an active position in which said rigid support member is spaced from the patient''s torso by a distance which is approximately equal to the length of the patient''s arms, said connecting means including a pivot bar connected to said support member and rotatably mounted in the journal bearing means in said base so that said support member may be pivotally moved between said active and inactive positions, said support member lying in a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said pivot bar, said connecting means further including means for resisting pivotal movement of said support member relative to said base member when said support member is positioned in its active position, said rigid support member in said active position extending transversely to a central axis of the patient''s torso and being disposed at approximately the same level as the patient''s shoulders to enable the patient to grasp said support member to thereby support the patient''s arms in an outstretched orientation during the taking of a lateral X-ray.
 2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for resisting pivotal movement of said support member relative to said base when said support member is positioned in its active position includes a positioning pin extending through, and protruding outwardly from, said pivot bar, and cooperating pin recess means defined in said bearing means for receiving said pin when said frame means is in its active position.
 3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein said bearing means includes a collar structure for coaxially receiving a portion of the length of said pivot bar and having a load bearing surface cooperating with portions of the length of said pin for providing support for said frame means.
 4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein said pin protrudes outwardly from diametrically opposed sides of the pivot bar, and wherein said recess means are defined by diametrically opposed recesses in the load bearing surface of said collar.
 5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said frame means includes a plurality of said support members spaced apart from each other, and wherein said base includes one or more bearing means, each of said bearing means rotatably supporting said pivot bar.
 6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein the pivot bar includes a plurality of positioning pins extending through, and protruding outwardly from diametrically opposed sides of said pivot bar, wherein each of said bearing means includes a collar structure for coaxially receiving a portion of the length of said pivot bar and having a load bearing surface cooperating with portions of the length of said pin for providing support for said frame means, and wherein diametrically opposed recess means are defined in the load bearing surface of each collar so as to receive respective positioning pins for resisting pivotal movement of said support member when said support member is positioned in its active position. 